Messina revolt

Messina revolt
Part of Franco-Dutch War

Messina in 1681
Date1672–1678
Location38°11′N 15°33′E / 38.18°N 15.55°E / 38.18; 15.55
Status Spanish control restored
Territorial
changes
Messina temporarily independent (1674–1678)
Belligerents
Kingdom of France
City of Messina
Kingdom of Spain
Dutch Republic (1676)
Commanders and leaders
Louis Victor de Rochechouart de Mortemart
Jean-Baptiste de Valbelle
François-Auguste de Valavoire
Anne Hilarion de Tourville
Abraham Duquesne
Luis de Hojo Crispano
Melchor de la Cueva
Michiel de Ruyter
Units involved
French Navy
French land forces
Spanish Army
Spanish Navy
Dutch Navy (1676)
Strength
Up to 20 French warships
Small land force
22 Spanish ships
19 galleys
Spanish army
Dutch-Spanish fleet (1676)
The revolt began as an anti-patrician uprising in 1672, but evolved into a revolt against Spanish rule with French support. Messina was independent until the end of the Franco-Dutch War (1672–78).
Messina
Location of Messina in Italy

The Messina revolt of 1672–78 began with a revolt against the patrician government of Messina on the island of Sicily by skilled workers in 1672. When the patricians regained control in 1674 they turned the movement into a revolt against Spanish rule. They obtained support from the French, and Messina was independent until the end of the Franco-Dutch War of 1672–78, when the Spanish regained control.